Sports Participation versus Consumer Expenditure on Sport: Different Determinants and Strategies in Sports Management

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the demographic and sociocultural background variables and economic factors determining the frequency of sports participation and consumer expenditure on sports. Ordered probit and tobit models provide the methodological approach. From data based on a questionnaire survey in Spain, the empirical results indicate the need to use different sports management strategies in each area. The results confirm, for example, the influence of variables such as gender, age or occupation in frequency of sports participation, while consumer expenditure on sports is principally determined by gender, education and income level. Thus, traditional strategies, such as discount card schemes or subsidies, based on low prices to increase sports participation among low income groups, should be revised. Strategies should be adapted to meet the purpose either of encouraging committed participants or expanding the base of participants.

The authors wish to express their thanks to the research teams at the Sport Industry Research Centre of the Sheffield Hallam University and the Centre for the Law and Economics of Sport of the University of Limoges for their collaboration during Fernando Lera-López's stays as a research visitor. They are especially grateful to Chris Gratton, Themis Kokolakakis, Jean-François Nys and Jean-Jacques Gouguet for their helpful observations on its content. The authors would also like to thank three anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions.